Star pupil follows his master to Manchester – THE WORLD

As Louis van Gaal was informed of the Bayern bosses about his expulsion end of the season in the spring of 2011, a player was particularly sad: Bastian Schweinsteiger. “Bayern has a lot of last year benefited from the coach. I personally have taken a positive development. That’s why it’s a shame,” the German international said at the time.

Now the two are reunited. Bastian Schweinsteiger joins Manchester United, confirmed the two clubs at the weekend in unison. The World Champion completed yesterday the medical check and is now put his signature under a three-year contract, which earns him a valued week salary of just under 200,000 euros. Only the question of how Schweinsteiger fit into the structure of the English record champion, still remains to be clarified. Especially in central midfield stingy United not just alternatives.

There would, for example, Marouane Fellaini, who at the beginning of Van > -Gaal era had already been labeled as false Shopping his predecessor David Moyes. However, over the season, the 32 million-euro Belgians played more and more into focus. In particular, his heading ability soon made him indispensable to the offensive game in the last season when van Gaal’s team often operated for lack of playful solutions with long balls into the top.

But Fellainis goalscoring and his ball-winning ability was van Gaal’s anger over an unnecessary red card in last season game of the Premier League in late May not diminish. As “incredibly stupid” called the “Tulip General” the action of his opponent who Fellaini earned a barrier of three games. A little later the Belgian was informed that he so soon may no longer count on a regular place in Manchester’s renowned ensemble. A new association has Fellaini, the United has until 2018 under contract but not yet found.

And then there are still stalwart Michael Carrick, Juan Mata , Ander Herrera and Daley Blind, the van Gaal piloted until last year for 18 million euros in the northwest of England. Although the Dutch international is blind as well as van Gaal from the Ajax school, but that did not prevent the coach from making him responsible for the significant loss to Everton in late April. The 25-year-old left-sided player has indeed undergone a rapid development under the guidance of his fellow countryman, yet its role in the team uncertain.

The 33-year-old Carrick again which is set for the part in defensive midfield actually, currently is suffering more from the effects of a calf injury. The Spaniard Juan Mata, who also ran aground under van Gaal at the headquarters, sees his position more in the offensive area, and Ander Herrera prefer coming on the right wing, Schweinsteiger would therefore make no competition.

the end of May gave to United’s coach that he still sees a need for the position of defensive midfielder. “The six is ​​a key player, of course. But for me, there are several key players,” Van Gaal said. “Nevertheless, we have found this season that we were occupied not always ideal for the six-position of the season.” There was a constant clock. Precisely that gap filled Schweinsteiger already when van Gaal was still coach at Bayern.

Anyway, it can be assumed that the former Bayern star a use guarantee in United scored. Always assuming the national team is fit, he could indicate in Carrick’s absence from the defensive midfield out the clock, either in a 4-4-2 system with the active foreign players Ashley Young and Angel Di Maria or 4-3-3- Formation with Mata and Herrera in the midfield headquarters. But even with Carrick together, as in a Van Gaal last season often practiced 4-3-2-1 system, Schweinsteiger came to the train.

Now more than ever questionable whether the” Red Devils continue to strive “to the services of the French international Morgan Schneiderlins. A first offer of 25 million euros had rejected the Southampton FC. The “Saints” will save at least 35 million euros for the defensive midfielder. Suggests United in the French nevertheless, Schweinsteiger threatened with Carrick, blind and Schneiderlin strong competition for the position of the first molar.

But the 30-year-old Bayer a decisive advantage: He enjoys – unlike last in Munich under Pep Guardiola – the confidence of the coach. “I want to develop players. But sometimes you have to buy. If you buy, it must be better than what you have,” van Gaal said days ago, when he was asked about a possible transfer of the Munich director. It is known that transfer fees and merits it does not care. Important to him is the personal relationship with the player – and there Schweinsteiger has already more credit than its competitors, particularly as he has at his best on an exceptional game intelligence and can give each team a lot of security. The Star coach and his favorite pupil, he once ordered from the outer position in the defensive headquarters could, the English champions back those winning mentality, the United has been lost in the years since Alex Ferguson’s farewell. Manchester United has now reversed to the key position in the defensive midfield more options than ever.

is completely uncertain how Schweinsteiger’s departure will affect the Bayern. If one believes in Bavaria former striker Roy Makaay, not good: “It is incredibly important for the club His departure is for the fans a big blow because he is at the club longer than any other..” The as “football God” worshiped by the fans Schweinsteiger is the door in Munich remains open. He should get there by his career a farewell game and return possibly in any other function, said Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge. The gap that leaves Schweinsteiger as identification figure Sabener street is, in any case not to fill. That had also Rummenigge openly admit. “That was a tough decision for Bayern Munich,” said the CEO. “It is precisely at times such that separate ways. We said goodbye in great friendship.”